This is Eutechnyx’s second attempt at making a great racing simulator. With Ferrari Challenge as a prequel they have big shoes to fill. But there is something different in this game.
Unlike Ferrari Challenge, this game introduces a completely new career mode that will allow you to drive across all continents in search of race points. With a curtain of points you will unlock a new track or car. We have found this unlocking method extremely enjoyable and it is always a surprise what happens next. Aside from unlocking new stuff and some trophies, there’s not much to see here. You can also try the arcade mode. In this mode, you will drive around three tracks aiming for curtain goals like finishing in the top 3. You will move to the next difficulty level once you have finished your objective. But sadly, annoying decisions are made here for developers. For one thing, you can’t save between attempts. Which means that when you finish two tracks on the expert difficulty, you won’t be able to stop without having to do all three tracks again. For this reason, this is also our least favorite mode. But there is more to SuperCar Challenge. You can do a quick race, time trial, paint your car and more! In short, you will not get bored here.
The presentation of the SuperCar challenge is also top notch. The graphics have improved from the previous challenge game. This time the colors feel more natural and the frame rate seems improved too. We know this has to do with the fact that this game is a PS3 exclusive (Ferrari Challenge wasn’t) because the engine seems quite similar. The sound is fantastic. The sound of the engine (or the music, if you will) is better than ever and far above anything ever heard in a Polyphony Digital game. And if you don’t like the sound of a V12 screaming behind you, you have the option to listen to your own MP3s in the background. To fine tune the whole phenomenon of music versus engine sound, you have the option to attenuate engine sound as well as ambient sounds. This is the way to go Eutechnyx, well done.
AI and steering are essential in all racing games and luckily they are done here. The computer cars still block their lines but not as aggressively as in the Ferrari Challenge. We actually liked the blocking AI, but now it’s just perfect. For example, in the past the computer would try to block it even if the speed difference is huge, this time they still occasionally do it, but not that much. Driving with a controller and a steering wheel works well! We had a hard time steering some of the cars with a driver because some of the cars were very unstable under braking. But this is a bonus because the game should be unforgiving with everything turned off, and even better, the cars actually drive differently in SuperCar Challenge. This effect is what makes this game a simulator and a good one too.
Now the last chapter of this review where we talk about the themes. First off, while we think you can never have enough Ferraris, a little more variation would be nice. Of the 44 cars to choose from, perhaps more than 30 are Ferraris. But we won’t say this is a problem because Ferrari cars were already made for the prequel, so why leave something out just for a bit more balance? More than one problem are the menus. They are skillful and full of animation, but maybe too much. This makes the interface feel slow at times. For example, when you have to wait for the car preview to load before you can select the car and continue. Another issue we encountered was the inability of the system to remember your driving aids at times. We tried to remove the racing line, but it magically reappeared in some of the modes. But nothing a brief visit to the menu can’t fix. To end the woes, we’d really like to see a mixed car mode. Sometimes it’s also fun to race against other types of supercars.
SuperCar Challenge feels considerably different from its prequel. With good graphics and sound, its presentation is very close to Grand Turismo 5 Prologue. The driving is amazing and all the cars feel really different, just like in real life. But slow menus and a lack of in-car variation can limit your experience. Also, the game can be frustrating at times, especially with the arcade mode. Ultimately, this game is highly recommended for simulation fans or people who really like cars.